Vessel and auxiliary boat therefor



1930- E. J. SHOEMAKER 1,734,549

VESSEL AND AUXILIARY BOAT THEREFOR Filed Feb. 7, 1928 {Invent/L041 E JS/wemaker Patented Dec. 9, g 1 930 messes EDWARD J. SHOEMAKER, OF CANTON, OHIO VESSEL AND AUXILIARY BOAT THEREFOR Application filed February 7, 1928'. Serial No. 252,470.

My invention relates to vessels and to auxiliary submarine boats which are releasably secured in docks in the vessels, and adapted for navigation to and from the docks either 5 independently of or connected with the vessels.

The vessel may be a naval submarine, or any naval or merchant vessel, provided with a water-tight compartment in which life may be sustained when the compartment is submerged as by accidental sinking of the vessel.

When the vessel is a naval submarine, it is desirable that such an auxiliary submarine boat should be associated with the submarine in such a Way that it may be manned by a part of the submarines crew and be able to carry out missions independently of the submarine, by being released from its dock either when the submarine is at the surface or submerged,

by being navigated away from the submarine for the purpose of accomplishing its mission which may be for example surface scouting or making a landing on enemy territory, and by being navigated back to and resecured in its dock in the submarine.

Such an auxiliary boat should also be adapted to be occupied by the commanding officer of the submarine while the submarine is submerged, to be released from its dock, to come to the surface, to be physically con nected with the submarine in such a manner that the commanding oflicer may make observations at the surface and direct the maneuvering of the submarine and control the firing of its torpedoes, and then to be redocked in the submarine.

Finally, such an auxiliary boat should be adapted to be used as a life boat which be occupied by, and rescue part or all of, the crew of a submerged submarine which is inbeen suggested have not been capable of functioning in the above described manner.'

In my companion. application for patent for Submarines and auxiliary boats therefor, I disclose a cable connecting the submarine and the auxiliary boat.

l/Vhen the submarineis submerged, and the auxiliary boat launched from its dock therein and connected therewith by the extended cable, there is more or less flexibility in the connecting cable even though the buoyancy of the auxiliary boat tends to maintain the cable taut between the boat and the submarine.

When the submarine is submerged in exceedingly deep water, this flexibility of the cable connection is desirable; but the submarine and the boat connected by the cable, do not comprise a rigid structure taken as a whole.

Particularly for rescue purposes, when a vessel including a water-tight compartment has been sunk, it is desirable that a more rigid extensible connect-ion be provided between the vessel and the auxiliary boat, thereby facilitating the rising of the auxiliary boat to the surface on an even keel.

Moreover, a rigid extensible connection between the submarine and an auxiliary boat comprising as a whole a rigid structure, is useful for naval purposes, since one or more of the crew may occupy the auxiliary boat at the surface, while the submarine is connected therewith by the rigid connecting member, and the auxiliary boat and the submarine may then be navigated as a single unit, with greater facility than by the use of the ordinary periscope.

The objects of the present improvements include accordingly the provision of a vessel, an auxiliary submarine boat, and an extensible and retractable rigid connecting member between the auxiliary boat and the vessel. 1

Furtherobjects of the present improvements include the provision of a vessel, an auxiliary-submarine boat, and an extensible and retractable rigid connecting member between the auxiliary boat and the vessel, as aforesaid, and, which the cooperating parts are so constructed and arranged as to render their operation certain and effective.

The improvements comprising the present invention include accordingly constructions and arrangements for the vessel, the auxiliary boat, and the connecting member, for attaining the foregoing and ancillary objects, and further include details of construction of the cooperating parts thereof.

A preferred embodiment of the improve-' ments is hereinafter set forth in detail, and is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation view with portions in sectionillustrating a vessel, an auxiliary submarine boat, and a rigid extensible and retractable telescopic connecting member, the rigidtelescopic connecting member and the auxiliary boat being shown in full lines in the extended position, and being shown in dot and dash lines in the retracted position;

.Fig. 2, a sectional view transversely of the auxiliary boat, the rigid telescopic connecting member being retracted, and the auxiliary boat being secured in its dock in the vessel;

Fig. 3, a fragmentary sectional View through the telescopic rigid connecting memher as on line 83, Fig. 1;

Fig. l, a fragmentary sectional view as on line 41 a, Fig. 1, illustrating the retracting drum and cable; and r Fig. 5, an enlarged sectional view as on line 55, Fig. 1, illustrating the separable connection between the communicating ducts in the connecting member and the auxiliary boat.

Similar numerals refer to, similar parts throughout the several views.

The vessel, which may be a submarine indicated generally at 10, includes, in combination with the usual structure, operating machinery and controls of a submarine. watersealed walls forming a dock 11 opening outwardly preferably from the upper deck 12 of the submarine; and one of the dock walls is provided with .an opening 13 therein communicating \viththe interior of one of the water-tight compartments 14; of the submarine, and door 15 swinging into the compartment 14 is arranged for water-sealing the opening 13.

The upper deck plates 16 project inwardly over the upper edges of the side and end walls of the dock 11, and flanges 17 are secured to the inwardly projecting portions of the plate 16, the uppersurface of the flanges 17 abutting against the lower surfaces of the plate 16, and t e.flanges 17projectinginwardly beyond the inner edges of the plates 16, forming a rabbeted seat 18 for the. auxiliary boat.

The flanges 17 are preferably legs of angles, the other legs 19 of which are secured to the side and end wallsofthe dock 11.

At spaced intervals between the legs 17 and 19, clamping seats 20 are provided, and will hereinafter be set forth in greater detail.

An auxiliary submarine boat 21 is arranged to be secured in the dock 11, and to provide a water-sealed closure for the opening thereof.

Sealed flanges 22 extend outwardly preferably from the intersection of the upper edges of the hull 23 and the outeredges of the deck plates 24 of the auxiliary boat; and the outwardly extending sealing flanges 22 are arranged to overlap the inwardly extending dock flanges 17.

Asealing gasket 25 preferably of resilient material such as rubber, is carried on the upper surface of the dock flanges 17 and is arranged to be compressed against the lower surfaces of the sealing flanges 22 to provide a water-sealed closure for the upper opening of the dock.

Improved means for effecting this Watersealed closure include internally threaded sleeves 26 spaced within the auxiliary boat 21 at intervals corresponding with the in tervals of the clamping seats 20 at the upper edges of the dock.

A screw 27 is screwed in each of the sleeves 26, the axes of the sleeve being preferably angled upwardly, and the outer end 28 of each screw extending outwardly and upwardly from the hull 23 of the auxiliary boat and adapted for clamping and sealing abutment against the suitably angled abutment surfaces 29- of the clamping seats 20 when the screws 27 are screwed outwardly from the interior of the auxiliary boat as by means of hand wheels 30 provided at the inner ends of the screws.

The outer ends 28 of the screws are preferably provided with outwardly extending flange heads 31 preventing withdrawal of the screws inwardly from the sleeves 26, thereby preventing the entrance of waterv into the interior of the auxiliary heat through the sleeves 26.

lhe auxiliary boat 21 is provided with an inwardly opening Watersealing man hole door 46 located adjacent the door 15 when the auxiliary boat 21 is clocked in the submarine.

The upper deck 24; of the auxiliary boat is likewise provided with a watensealing man hole door l7, and suitable glass covered water-sealed port holes 48 are provided in the hull 23 of-the auxiliary boat.

A by-pass conduit 49 provides a communi- -ation;tl 1rough one side of the hull 23 to and through the upper deck thereof, and a valve 50 is provided in the conduit 49 for opening;

and a propeller 5 2 -operated as by-an electric :meaeee ing out an independent mission, and of being redocked therein, will hereinafter be set forth in greater detail.

For increasing the co-operative abilities of the auxiliary boat and submarine, they are connected with each other by an extensible and retractablerigid telescopic connecting member, indicated generally at 54, and the upper end of which is releasably secured to the auxiliary boat.

The rigid telescopic connecting member indicated generally at 54 includes a plurality of telescopic sleeves 55a, 55b, 55c, 55d, and 556; the sleeve 55a being the outer sleeve, and the sleeve 556 being the inner sleeve.

The sleeve 55a is secured between the bottom wall 56 of the dock and the floor 57 of the compartment 14 and the joints between the sleeve and the wall 56 and 57 are watersealed, the sleeve being preferably provided with a closure base 58 to which it is secured and which is secured to the floor 57.

The upper end of the sleeve 55a is pro vided with an inwardly directed peripheral flange 59a for engagement with an outwardly directed peripheral flange 605 at the lower end of the sleeve 55b, to limit the upward movement of the sleeve 55 9.

A piston ring seal 61b is provided in the flange b for sliding against the inner surface of the sleeve 55a.

Similarly the upper ends of the sleeves 55b, 55c, and 55d are provided, respectively, with inwardly directed peripheralflanges 59b, 59c, and 59d; and the lower ends of the sleeves 550, 55d, and 556 are provided, re spectively, with outwardly directed flanges 60c, 60d. and 60a, and these outwardly di rected flanges are provided, respectively, with piston ring seals 610, 6165, and 616.

In the retracted position, the sleeve 55!) rests upon the upper surface of the base 58; and an outwardly directed screw flange ring 620 is provided for the upper end of the sleeve 550 for supporting it upon the upper end of the sleeve 55b; and similarly an outwardly directed screw flange ring 62d is provided for the upper end of the sleeve 55d for supporting it upon the upper end of the sleeve 550. i

A disk closure 63 seals the upper end of the sleeve 55c and an auxiliary boat saddle 64 is secured on the upper end of the sleeve 556 as by being screwed thereon and locked by set screws 65. The docking saddle 64. is preferably troughed as illustrated.

The auxiliary boat 21 is removablysecured in the saddle 64 asby means of a clamping screw 66 mounted for raising and lowermg in a water-sealed housing 67 within the auxiliary boat; and the lower end 68 of the screw extending below the boat and adapted for being screwed into or out ofa threaded aperture in the saddle, for securing to or releasing the auxiliary boat from the saddle.

.For preventing twisting, that is to say, angular movement about their central axis of the several sleeves of the telescopic c0nnecting member 54, with respect to each other, the outer surfaces of the sleeves 551),.

55a, 55d and 556 are provided respectively with longitudinally extending grooves 69?),

690, 69d, and 696, in which slide, respectively,

radially extending tongues 70a,-70b, 70c, and 70d projecting inwardly, respectively, from the upper flanges 59a, 595, 590, and 59d.

A water-sea-ledclosure 71 is provided for the lower end of the sleeve 55c, and the upper end of a steel cable 72 is secured to the closure, and extends downwardly into the submarine through a water-sealed opening 73 and about pulleys 74 and 75 arranged to maintain the alinement of the cablethrough the water-sealed opening 73, to the drum 76 provided with a motor drive 77, the lower end of the cable 72 being secured to the drum' and the drum being adapted to retract the telescopic member 54 when the same is extended.

When the screws 27 are'disengaged from their seats 20, and water admitted to the dock 11 as through the duct 49, the compartment 14 being submerged, the natural buoyancy of the auxiliary boat 21 tends to extend the telescopic connecting member.

For extending the member rapidly, fluid pressure means indicated generally at 78 are provided and may include a high pressure tank 79 communicating through a pipe line 80, having a control valve 81 therein, with the interior of the telescopic sleeves, which constitute in effect a telescopic piston.

A pipe 82 likewise connects the tank with the exhaust high pressure outlet ofthe air compressor 83; and a pipe line 84 connects the low pressure inlet of the air compressor I '83 with the interior of the telescopic sleeves.

control valve 87 therein. with the interior of the telescopic piston sleeves. A. plurality of telescopic ducts 88 similar in construction to the telescopic connecting member 54, are located within the connecting member for providmg a clrculation of air between the submarine and the boat.

One of the ducts 88 may constitute anair feed line from the submarine to the auxiliary boat, or Vice verse, by being connected at its auxiliary lower end with'an air pump 89in the submarine. The other ducts 88 may constitute a compressed air return line and speaking tube, and may also carry one or more electrical cables 90 for use in telephone, signal or lighting circuits as may be desired.

The upper ends of the ducts 88-terminate in the saddle 64 as best illustrated in Fig. 5, and a resilient gasket 91 is provided-in a suitable depression at the end of each duct in the upper surface of the saddle for making a water-sealed communicating connection with a tube 92 through the auxiliary boat bottom.

A gate valve 93 is secured at-the upper end of each of the tubes 92. The upper end of any of the electrical cables 90 which may be carried by either of the ducts is provided with a separable connector 94 secured at the upper end of the ducts. v

lrVhen it is desired to release the auxiliary boatfrom the saddle, half of theseparable connector 94 communicating withelectrical apparatus within the auxiliary'boat is pulled away from the half secured in the duct, and a plug 95 is screwed in the upper end of each duct, the gate valve 94 is then closed, and the clamping screw 68 unscrewed, thereby entirely separating the auxiliary boat from the submarine.

The submarine vessel 10 being submerged and being connected as aforesaid with the auxiliary submarine boat 21 by the extensible and retractable rigid telescopic piston connecting member 54, and the telescopic member being retracted and the auxiliary boat 21 being secured in the dock 11 as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 2, and in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, and the closed dock being evacuated of water, the auxiliary boat may be manned by a part of the submarines crew, leaving the submarine through the door 15 and entering the auxiliary boat through the door 46.

Both doors 15 and 46 may then be closed, and the valve may be opened permitting entrance of water through the conduit 49 into the dock 11, and the screws 27 may be withdrawn from engagement with the seats 20, and the valve 87 in the low pressure line 86 being closed, the valve 81 in the high pressure air line may be opened and admit air at high pressure into the interior of the telescopic piston connecting member 54, thereby extending the same, assisted by the natural buoyancy of the auxiliary boat 21, causing the boat 21 to rise to the full extent of the length of the telescopic member 54, where it is maintained in rigid associationwith the submarine byinaintaining the-air pressure in the telescopic piston, and the rigid combination maybe navigated as a unit,with the auxiliary boat at the surface, or above or below the surface as may be desired.

l Vhen it is desired to retract the rigid con- :neQti lg..mQmber, the high. pressure valve 81 is closed, and the low pressure valve 87 is opened permitting the air within the telescopic piston to enter the tank from which it is withdrawn and passed through the air compressor 88 and stored in the high pressure tank 79. I

The cable 7 2 having its lower end attached to the drum 76 as aforesaid may be utilized in retracting the telescopic connecting member 54.

If it is desired that the auxiliary boat 21 perform an independent mission, the screw 66 is disengaged from the threaded aperture in the saddle, and the plugs are inserted in the conduits 88 and the electrical cables 94'are separated, whereby the auxiliary boat is completely separated from the submarine and can be navigated independently thereof.

After carrying out an independent mission the auxiliary boat may be resecured in the saddle, and the plugs 95 may be removed and the electrical connectors be reengaged whereby the auxiliary boat and the submarine are again associated with each other as a rigid unit.

l/Vhen the telescopic connecting member 54 is extended, as aforesaid,.and air is the fluid used in connection with the fluid pressure means for extending the connecting member, due to the compressibility of air, the connecion between the submarine and auxiliary boat is rigid in every direction except along the longitudinal axis of the telescopic member, in which direction slight relative movements of the auxiliary boat and submarine are possible, and are desirable since the compression of the air in the extended piston by such movements absorbs shocks which would otherwise be transmitted from the boat to the submarine or vice versa.

If a liquid such as water is used in place of the air in the fluid pressure means for extending the telescopic piston, water being relatively incompressible under the ordinary conditions of submarine navigation, even such axial relative movement between the auxiliary boat and the submarine may be practically eliminated if desired.

I claim:

1. A vessel, an independently navigable auxiliary submarine boat including means operable from within the boat for propelling and navigating the boat, a rigid connecting member extending between the vessel and the boat, andmeans for releasably engaging the boat with the connecting member.

2. A. vessel, an independently navigable auxiliary submarine boat including means operable from within the boat for propelling and navigating the boat, an extensible and retractable rigid connecting member extending between the vessel and the boat, and means for releasably engaging the boat with the connecting member.

3. A vessel, an independently navigable auxiliary submarine boat including means operable from within the boat for propelling and navigating the boat, an extensible and retractable rigid connecting member extending between the vessel and the boat, means for releasably engaging the boat with the connecting member, and means for extending and retracting the connecting member.

4. A vessel, an independently navigable m auxiliary submarine boat including means operable from within the boat for propelling and navigating the boat, a rigid connecting member extending between the vessel and the boat, the connecting member including a troughed 15 docking saddle at one end, and means detachably securing the boat in the docking saddle. 5. A vessel, an independently navigable auxiliary submarine boat including means operable from within the boat for propelling 20 and navigating the boat, a rigid connecting member extending between the vessel and the boat, and means operable from within the boat for releasably engaging the boat with the con necting member. g5 In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

- EDWARD J. SHOEMAKER. 

